'tongue-in-cheek': adj. or adv.?

[Tamara]

Hi

Dictionaries say tongue-in-cheek is an adjective ('… but people see it as very tongue-in-cheek' – this was the phrase, I heard yesterday and with that I started today's morning )

But now I see:

[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

There is no problem using tongue-in-cheek as an adverb.
It certainly would sound odd (and possibly leave people tongue-tied) if you attempted to add an -ly to tongue-in-cheek in an effort to build the adverb.

Although I don't see it specifically listed as a noun in the dictionary entries I've checked so far, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that tongue-in-cheek might also be used as a noun (on rare occasions).

But the most frequent usage would be as an adjective.

Amy

[Tamara]

Thank you, Amy.
You know my painstakingness...

Tamara

P.S. Nice picture, indeed.
haloed
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Conchita]

[Tamara]

Conchita, could you pronounce 'cameoed' for me, please? (Just to protect me - this nice sunshiny Sunday - from irreversible tongue twisting )
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Conchita]

Have you seen many people literally put their tongue in their cheek when joking? I only know a few who (unconsciously?) do that and, curiously, they are men. Don't you find the ensuing lopsided smile cute?

[Tamara]

Thanks!
(Going out )
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…